Only 100 Indira Canteens likely to open on August 16

BENGALURU: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which is racing against time to complete installation of Indira Canteens, seems to be finding it tough to meet even the revised target of 125 out of 198 canteens by August 16. Sources in the civic body now say that in all likelihood only 100 canteens will be inaugurated on the decided date.

Canteens in the remaining wards will be inaugurated by October 2. In March, chief minister Siddaramaiah had announced inauguration of Indira Canteens in all 198 wards on August 15. The canteens will provide food at concessional rates. However, in the third week of July, the target was revised to 125 canteens. Recently, the date of inauguration too was postponed to August 16.

“Lack of space to set up canteens, especially in the wake of residents protesting is causing the delay. We are in talks with local corporators and resident welfare associations to finalize locations for the remaining canteens. In some wards, search is on for alternative locations,“ said a senior official associated with the project.

B S Prahallad, chief engi neer (road infrastructure), BBMP, one of the coordinators for the project, said he is still hopeful of meeting the full target by August 16. “We are doing our best. Let's see," he added.

1,000 PEOPLE HIRED

Two catering agencies - Chef Talk Food & Hospitality Services Private Limited and Rewards -are said to have hired around 1,000 men and women to serve food and maintain the canteens across the city. The civic body is training these people to ensure they behave well with customers and maintain hygiene at workplace. From basic practices like personal hygiene to following proper etiquette while serving food, the staffers are being trained on these parameters and more. They are also being taught how to ensure local taste is kept intact in the food to be served and the kind of recipes to follow.

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